Diane, I want you to have this for your avatar.
Some very nice observations, hamburger.
Spent 34 of my 40 years in America and will now spend the rest of my days in Canada :-D
Good morning, folks.
Great stories here about visits to America. Glad that everyone has dropped in and shared their experiences.
I think it was Emily Dickinson who said, "A trip takes the body, but a book takes the soul." Guess I'll have to be content with a soul train.
In my little part of America, it's a beautiful day. Guess I ought to try and make the most of it.
I do hope that all of you don't view the U.S. from a political stance, 'cause us peons don't begin to reflect what the Washington beltway portrays.
letty : i don't want to be too hard on washington. mrs. h and i had a wonderful easter visit to washington in the late 70's. visited the white house on a guided tour(can't remember who was president). there was only minimal security; i was allowed to take my camera with me, but politely asked not to take pictures(i didn't). had lunch in the senate dining-room and had the famous "bean-soup" - or perhaps infamous ?. the city was pink with cherry blossoms ... i think times were a lot more innocent. hbg
THE STORY OF THE U.S. CAPITOL BEAN SOUP >>>>This is clearly a case of hot air begetting hot air. Some give Senator Fred Thomas Dubois of Idaho the credit; others Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota. But the popular fave is Joseph G. Cannon, U.S. Speaker of the House, 1903-1911, who one day entered the dining room, looked at the menu, and exclaimed "Thunderation, I had my mouth set for bean soup! From now on, hot or cold, rain, snow or shine, I want it on the menu every day." And so it came to be, every single solitary dining day, in all 11 Capitol dining rooms. Senator and wannabe president Bob Dole doted on it; former Representative and former President Gerald Ford swore by it; and Representative Sonny Bono had a lot of good things to say about it until his unfortunate skiing accident. It's a thick, subtantial, filling thing, that reputedly increases the already considerable gassiness of our nation's legislators. (Thanks to Nina Mrose for some of these facts from the Senate website.) Serve hot to 6-8 people as a light meal or substantial first course. ... i think it is scandelous that our names are not being mentioned here ! does it warrant a formal diplomatic protest ? hbg
Dear Letty,
since I met you and the other a2kers last year my life has changed, and that's no bullsh*t. A lot of people asked me how I could even consider visiting the States, and then I told'em about my experiences with y'all, and told them that you guys aint running the country, and hence not really responsible for the bad rep that the USA is getting all over the world.
And by the way... I had a really good day today...
Where you from originally, bigdice?
c.i., thank you for the beautiful picture and the offer to use it as an avatar, but I've been thinking of finding something else since Dys and I are moving to New Mexico.
Sweet Letty, your thread has certainly veered off course, but it is very much alive and well and full of cheerful, good-natured people.
Very happy to hear you're moving away from Colorado! I just couldn't imagine Dys being happy surrounded by all those fundamentalists. (Tell Dys that I shall begin referring to the state as "Colo-damn-rado" in his honor.
)
Tell us all about the new house, will you? And the landscape surrounding it?
I'm from sweden really, gus, but for the moment(long damn moment though, 12 yrs and counting) I'm living in Germany with my lovely wife Ursula, aka urs53...
BTW, I was just looking thru the gallery and saw the pics that Lola posted from the S.F. gathering... NICE!!! ...and now I know what turned the nun bad... which is goooood....
If y'all decide to move to Texas, I got some nice beachfront property in Odessa to sell. Lots of private beach hideaways for nude bathing.
Diane
I know very little about New Mexico apart from there being lots of desert there, that Georgia O'Keefe lived there towards the end of her life, & that it has lots of artists' colonies. Sounds great! Good luck!
I tihnk Santa Fe and Taos are two favorite spots for artist types.
<sigh> Sounds wonderful! AND tolerant! Yep, Diane & Dys sounds like a good move!
hamburger, Let me say this. You must be very proud of your daughter. She is not only strong, she is wise. I went to DC long ago and didn't even appreciate it's significance. I'm still not certain what it holds for us Yanks.
Lots of Hollywood goes politico. Drama, you know.
And dice, you better damn well appreciate Urs. (not that you don't) and, honey, the term is "yawl" lol
When my husband and I camped, we met three Germans. Willie Paff, and Wilfred Gras and his daughter, Martina. I will never forget her telling me, "I be nurses". Often wonder about those folks. I laughed when Willie said about my rusted out camping chair. " This be caputa stool"
and Gus is from the land of the lost.
who knows. Maybe I'll push the envelope on day and do skydiving.
goodnight, around the world friends.
p.s. The nun gone bad is good.
Eva!! Colo-damn-rado is perfect! Must say that most of the fundamentalists live in Colorado Springs--a beautiful setting for some of the nastiest people on earth.
{{{{{Big D}}}}}, yes, the nun gone bad turned out to be just fine with Dys along for the ride.
Hey, Edgar, I think those Swedes go for nude bathing in a big way.
c.i. and msolga, New Mexico is a wonderful spot for artists, but Taos and Santa Fe have become way too expensive for any but the very most successful and for Hollywood stars. I remember going through Taos with my parents when I was about 8 years old, which would make it about 53 years ago. Then there was the highly spiritual, mystical quality that attracted artists. It was dirt roads and the small plaza with a few businesses. Both places are still beautiful, but somehow lack that magical quality of many years ago.
Albuquerque is for those of us with small budgets, but it also has lots of artists (those who can't afford the north.
New Mexico is a state with a variety of politics, which makes it interesting and tolerant.
We will probably start a thread about the house when we have moved in an settled a little bit. The gardening is very exciting to both of us. Albuquerque is in a zone which tolerates a wide variety of plants. There are so many beautiful specimens that thrive in desert climate with vibrant blooms and since the season lasts for so long, there will be color most of the year.
It is a little ranch type, one floor, about 1650 sq. ft., on a cul-de-sac. Nice patio which is shaded in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the whole area is sort of cookie cutter new developments, but the price was too good to pass up.
All of you are invited to a house warming party and you all have an open invitation to visit at any time!!
